Ironing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ironing apparatus which compactly and unitarily comprises an iron, an ironing board, support structures for said iron and said ironing board, a casing of relatively small volume for containing the same with frame means fixing said casing to said support structures whereby said apparatus is adapted for operative disposition when said casing is opened to provide a base with said ironing board being in extended condition and said iron disposed thereabove, and inoperative position wherein said apparatus components are fully received within the closed casing for ready transportability.

United States Patent Foster et al.

[54] IRONING APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Edwin E. Foster; Wilbur A. Foster; Thomas E. Foster, all of I Austin,

Tex.

[73] Assignee: Maiik-Ironers, Inc., Austin, Tex.

[22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 95,736

[52] US. Cl. ..38/30, 108/34, 190/42,

38/104 [51] Int. Cl. .....D06f 71/00 [58] Field of Search ..l08/3336; 190/11, 190/42; 38/103, 104, 139, 112, 30, 31; 100/102 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,483,954 12/1969 Michalski ..190/42 3,137,953 6/1964 Foster ..38/30 7/1950 Morgan ..3s/139 x 51 Oct. 24, 1972 3,027,664 4/1962 Dailey ..38/1 39 X 3,303,591 2/1967 Foster ..38/3l 3,326,337 6/1967 Bell 190/11 3,496,659 2/1970 Foster ..38/30 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Att0rney-Ralph W. Kalish [57 7 ABSTRACT An ironing apparatus which compactly and unitarily comprises an iron, an ironing board, support structures for said iron and said ironing board, a casing of relatively small volume for containing the same with frame means fixing said casing to said support structures whereby said apparatus is adapted for operative disposition when said casing .is opened to provide a base with said ironing board being in extended condition and said iron disposed thereabove, and inoperative position wherein said apparatus components are fully received within the closed casing for ready transportability.

22'Claims, 48 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUBI 24 I972 SHEET OlflF 20 INVENTORS EDWIN E. FOSTER FOSTER &

WILBUR A.

THOMAS E. Fos EFi BY )y KM ATTORNEY PATENTEDUBT 2 I9 3.699.673

SHEET UEUF 20 FIG. 4

a 5'3 /37 I l; 54 /4/ 25 A INVENTORS EDWIN E. FOSTER WILBUR A. FOSTE'R ea THOMAS E. FOSTER ATTORNEY PATENTEDnm 24 I972 SHEET U3UF 20 FIG. 5

INVENTORS EDWIN E. FOSTER. WILBUR A. FOSTER, & THOMAS E. FOSTER BY Q K ATTO RNEY PATENTED our 24 1972 SHEET 05 0F 20 INVENTORS EDWIN E. FOSTER, WILBUR A. FOSTER & THOMAS E. FosTEFi BY Ql k W. (14.1

ATTORNEY PA'TENTED 24 I97? 3 6 9 9 .6 7 3 SHEEI o 8 HF 20 FIG. l2

INVENTORS EDWiN E. FOSTER. WILBUR A. FOSTER, &- THOMAS E. FOSTER BY Q KM ATTORNEY PATENTED 24 I97? 3 699 .873

SHEET 09 [1F 20 F IIMK FIG. l8

INVENTORS EDWIN E. FOSTER, WILBUR A. FOSTER. 8. THOMAS E. FOSTER BY Q4, w. MAL

ATTORNEY PATENTEU 0m 24 I972 SHEET 100F2O INVENTORS EDWIN E. FOSTER, WILBUR A. FOSTER -& THOMAS E. FosTEF BY Q MW K ATTORNEY PKTE N TED 24 I97? 3. 6 99 .6 7 3 SHEET 11 0F 20 EDW.N' E -F %ER WILBUR A. FOSTEFQ. &

THOMAS E. FOSTER BY Qw K ATTORNEY PATENTED MIT 24 m2 SHEET 12UF 2O FIG. 26

INVENTORS EDWIN E. FOSTER WILBUR A. FOSTER & THOMAS E. FOSTER BY MM ATTORNEY FIG. 25

PATENTED 0m 24 \972 SHEET 1 [1F 20 INVENTORS E. FOSTER, WILBUR A. FOSTER &

TEFQ

FIG. 33

EDWIN THOMAS E. FOS BY QM -1 ATTORNEY PATENTE'O um 24 m2 SHEET 1EUF 2O FIG. 37

INVENTORS EDWIN E. FOSTER, WILBUR A. FOSTER & THOMAS E. FOSTER FIG. 36

BY M w KM ATTORNEY PATENTEDom 24 I972 SHEET 17UF 20 FIG. 40

ATTORNEY P'A'TENTEDncI 24 1972 3,699,673

SHEET 18 [1F 20 INVENTORS EDWIN E. FOSTER. WILBUR A. FOSTER. 8. THOMAS E. FOSTER BY QM ATTORNEY 

1. An ironing apparatus for disposition upon a support surface comprising means defining a carrying case having a base wall and a pair of complementary closure sections, each of said sections incorporating a side panel portion hingedly engaged to said base wall along opposed margins for swingable movement of said sections toward each other into case-closed or carrying position and away from each other into case-opened condition wherein said side panel portions are in co-planar alignment with said base wall upon the support surface, a multi-sectioned ironing board, an ironing board support fixed on said base wall having a height less than the height of said case and upstanding from said base wall, means interengaging said ironing board and said ironing board support for movement of said board between extended, operative condition when said case is opened, and collapsed, inoperative condition when said case is closed, an iron, a linkage support structure fixed on said base wall, an iron support linkage engaged to said iron, and means connecting said linkage support structure and said iron support linkage.
 2. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said closure sections having marginal flanges cooperating to define end walls and a top wall of said case.
 3. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said multi-sectioned ironing board comprising a central section and a pair of end sections, each of said end sections being hingedly engaged to said central section along opposed side margins whereby said end sections are swingable between planar aligned condition with said central section for presenting said board in operative condition and in planar normal condition thereto.
 4. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said central section being of slightly less area than said case base wall whereby when said ironing board is in collapsed or inoperative condition said central section will be disposed in overlying, planar parallel relation to said base wall and said end sections will be downwardly swung therefrom into parallel relationship with the adjacent side panel portion of said closure sections.
 5. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by one of said ironing board end sections comprising a major portion and a three-sided corner portion, hinge means swingably mounting said corner portion on said related end sections, said hinge means being disposed along a hinge axis forming an acute angle with the longitudinal center line of ironing board, and means for securing said corner portion in selected disposition with respect to said major portion.
 6. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 5 and further characterized by said corner portion being shiftable along the hinge axis between same and the adjacent major portion, and inter-related means provided on said major portion and said corner portion for locking engagement when said corner portion is at one limit of its travel along said hinge axis.
 7. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said means engaging said ironing board and said ironing board support comprising a swing arm mounted on the upper end portion of said ironing board support for movement between horizontal disposition in overlying relationship to said base wall when said ironing board is in collapsed inoperative condition and upwardly swung condition wherein said arm extends above said ironing board support and projects endwise of said case whereby said ironing board will be presented upwardly and offset from the coplanar closure sections side panel portions but in planar parallel relationship to the support surface.
 8. An ironing apparatus as defIned in claim 7 and further characterized by a pair of struts pivotally carried on said swing arm, said struts being each swingably engaged in its portion remote from said swing arm to the adjacent end section of said ironing board.
 9. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 8 and further characterized wherein one of said struts comprises a rod, and means defining a sleeve for telescopically receiving said rod, means engaging one end of said sleeve to the related end section whereby said end section is rendered swingable in a direction normally upwardly of said central section through relative movement of said rod outwardly of said sleeve.
 10. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 9 and further characterized by said ironing board end section engaged to said sleeve means having a major portion and a three-sided corner portion, and hinge means interengaging said corner portion and major portion.
 11. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by means associated with said ironing board support for locking the swing arm in operative condition against accidental collapse.
 12. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 11 and further characterized by said locking means comprising a lever swingably connected at its upper end to said swing arm, a brace pivotally mounted on one side of said ironing board support, said lever being pivotally connected at its lower end to the proximate end of said brace, and means connected to said closure sections interengaging said brace when said ironing board is in extended operative condition.
 13. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 12 and further characterized by said means connected to said closure sections comprising toggle links.
 14. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 12 and further characterized by said means connecting said closure sections comprising a pair of control links, each link being engaged at one of its end portions to the adjacent closure section, a block slideably carried on said ironing board support for travel reciprocally vertically thereof, said control links being each engaged at its other end portion to said slide block, and resilient means urging said block upwardly.
 15. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said means connecting said linkage support structure and said iron support linkage being an iron raising and lowering mechanism.
 16. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 15 and further characterized by said iron support linkage comprising at least one main support arm, an intermediate arm, and a forearm, said iron being carried at an end portion of said forearm remote from said intermediate arm, said main support arm being connected to said iron raising and lowering mechanism.
 17. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 15 and further characterized by said iron support linkage comprising a pair of main support arms disposed on opposite sides of said iron raising and lowering mechanism and being pivotally engaged thereon for swingable movement in a vertical plane, a transverse member extending between said main support arms in their end portions remote from their pivotal engagement upon said raising and lowering mechanism, intermediate support arm pivotally engaged at one of its ends to said transverse member intermediate said main support arms, a forearm pivotally engaged at one of its ends to said intermediate support arm remote from its connection to said transverse member, and said iron being carried on the other end of said forearm.
 18. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 16 and further characterized by said main support arm being pivotally mounted upon said iron raising and lowering mechanism for swingable movement in a vertical plane between downwardly swung, inoperative position and upwardly swung operative position, the plane of swing of said support arm being above said base plate and within a projection of the area defined thereby, said intermediate support arm being hingedly engaged at one of its ends to the end of said main support arm remote from its pivotal mounting, said forearm being pivotally engaged at its end remote from the connection to the iron to the end of said intermediate support arm remote from its connection to said main support arm.
 19. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 16 and further characterized by a receptacle-forming member carried on said intermediate support arm for receiving the heel portion of the iron when the latter is not in use.
 20. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 16 and further characterized by latch means for maintaining said iron support linkage in iron supporting condition.
 21. An ironing apparatus for disposition upon a support surface comprising means defining a carrying case having a base wall and a pair of complementary closure sections, each of said sections incorporating a side panel portion hingedly engaged along its normally lower edge to said base wall along opposed margins thereof for swingable movement of said sections toward edge other into case-closed or carrying position, and away from each other into case-open condition, in which last mentioned condition said side panel portions are in coplanar alignment with said base wall upon a support surface, each of said closure sections having end marginal flanges for cooperating to define opposed end walls when said case is closed, each of said closure sections having a top wall-forming flange at its upper margin for cooperating to define a case top wall upwardly of said base wall when said case is in closed condition, a multi-sectioned ironing board comprising a central section and a pair of end sections, said central section being of slightly less area than said case base wall, each of said end sections being hingedly engaged to said central section along opposed side margins thereof for swingable movement between planar aligned condition with said central section for presenting said board in operative condition and in downwardly swung condition in planar normal relationship to the side panel of the adjacent closure section when said case is closed, an ironing board support fixed on said base wall and upstanding therefrom, a swing arm engaged to said ironing board beneath said central section, said swing arm being located upwardly of said base wall and being swingably engaged on the upper portion of said ironing board support for movement between horizontal disposition in overlying relationship to said base wall when said ironing board is in inoperative condition with said ironing board end sections being in downwardly swung position, an iron, a linkage support structure fixed on said base wall spacedly from said ironing board support, an iron support linkage engaged to said iron comprising a plurality of articulated links mutually swingable, being compactly collapsible for reception between said ironing board end sections beneath said swing arm when said case is closed, and means connecting said linkage support structure and said iron support linkage.
 22. An ironing apparatus as defined in claim 5 and further characterized by said means connecting said linkage support structure and said iron support linkage being an iron raising and lowering mechanism. 